Sunday, June 2, 2013

I've been a runner about ten years now, and as my fitness level changes and my body changes, I've noticed a few things. I used to be able to pick any fitness top or running bra off the shelf or out of a catalog and it would work for me. I selected mostly for looks.

That's no longer the case.

Here's what I've learned: when I sweat my skin doesn't like latex or elastic much. If I don't pull off my running clothes and head to the shower right away, the next day I get red patches where the top offers support...where all the elastic is sewn in.

The summer months are the worst. At times, the red patches would get sore, and it became uncomfortable to wear even regular clothes, let alone snug running gear.

About a year ago, I had the good fortune to be selected as a Grassroots Ambassador for Stonewear Designs, an outdoor/adventure clothing company with products just for women. It was my delight to discover in the first shipment of clothes, their Dryflex Double Cross Top. It fit all my criteria:

1) Looks great (love the double straps on the back!)
2) Made of moisture wicking material
PLUS--
3) All the elastic was covered with soft, breathable fabric...so none of it rubbed against my skin.

Take a look inside at the inner bra...no elastic!

After months of running in the Double Cross, I can tell you it solved my problem. I have three of them, they're at the top of my running clothes pile, and they're my "go to" faves. Shortly, my "year" as an ambassador will come to a close, but because of the comfort they give me, I'll be ordering more Double Cross tops from Stonewear this summer!

Oh, and one more thing...unlike many attractive running tops with an interesting design, the Double Cross is actually EASY to get on and take off! I hate having to twist around like a pretzel to get dressed and undressed, don't you?

**Stay tuned, because right here late next week we'll announce some special guided hikes in the park, including the Smith Spring trail, for Sunday, June 23. Details to come!**

Agave blooming in the desert

At the middle of this 2.6 mile hike, there's a natural spring which means water and shade trees, and hummingbirds and dragonflies, all of which we saw yesterday. The spring is the desert's best kept secret as it is "hidden" between two peaks, into the fold of the mountains atop a dry arroyo. We spent almost an hour in the cool, dark spring area before we headed out into the sun, fully refreshed.

Getting there is a gradual climb of 400 or so feet....there's no "climbing" or scrambling over boulders, just a gentle rise on a dirt or rocky path. This is rated as a moderate hike, but many beginning hikers may be ready to tackle it.

Not only do you get to visit this cool, green, shaded oasis, but the trail also takes you by Manzanita Spring, a pond, and a frequent stop for birds and wildlife. The trail begins and ends at the historic Frijole Ranch house, now a small museum showing early life in the Guadalupe Mountains. That's why this trail is designated as a "Texas Mountain Trail Heritage Hike."

More photos from the trail from yesterday!

Closeup of the agave blooms

Pools of water from Smith Spring

Outdoor Tip!

Our friends at Clif MOJO sent us some bars to sample along with some "Adventure Tips for the Great Outdoors!"

Here's one they offer: "Packing snacks is a no brainer. It's better to err on the side of having too much versus too little. Consider factors such as weight, bulk, nutritional value and taste. Try packing a few Clif Mojo Sweet and Salty Trail Mix Bars to cover your snacking needs, and plenty of water to stay hydrated during your day outdoors."

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Our friends at Stonewear Designs continue to encourage us all to bring outdoor adventure into our lives. They asked their Grassroots Ambassadors to suggest Date Night ideas for their Valentine's Day feature.

Our suggestion? "Spread the topo maps out on the floor, open up a bottle of wine and plan your next adventure together. We like to visualize each hiking trail from the map first, then hop on Google Earth and see the satellite view of the area. This is what we did on our most recent adventure to Big Bend Ranch State Park near the Rio Grande. -Beth Nobles, Stonewear Designs Ambassador and blogger at One Foot In Front of the Other"Here's a link to the others!

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Mountain tops seem to
hold a special place in men’s minds. Moses came down from the mountain top with
the moral code that has shaped the lives of millions of people for thousands of
years. Native Americans seek their visions among the mountain tops, while Buddhist
monks remain to find nirvana. The mountain top is a symbol of clarity,
knowledge, and enlightenment. The effort and struggles of gaining the peak are
integral to the significance of gaining the summit. No one would say they had
conquered a mountain by flying to the top in a helicopter. No, each step on the
way to the top has its own place and meaning.

The hike to the top of
Guadalupe Peak is no different. As you work your way up the trail the desert
floor falls away; the sounds of the highway gradually fade. Valleys and hills
unfold before you, curving away to join ridge upon ridge, knitted together by
rock and tree. Rounding a corner opens new worlds, as barren hillsides and
sheer cliff faces become mountain slopes covered in pines, only to give way to
the grassy shoulders of the peak. The air, thin enough to give pause as you
switchback your way through the steepest sections of the trail, fills with the
scent of pine. Even with your eyes closed, the air near the peak would tell you
that you are far from the rest of the world. The last scramble to the summit,
full of white fossil rich rocks of a long vanished reef, brings you face to
face with the goal of your long climb. The mountain top is yours. Away below is
the work-a-day world. But here, on the top, the press of everyday affairs is far
away. Whether the first or the hundredth time to the top, the summit brings its
own sense of time and scale to your perspective. As you gradually make your way
back down the trail the headiness of the summit will remain. Distances seem
changed, perspectives reframed. The memory of the view from the top is
contrasted with where you are. Once returned to the base, the moments of
clarity on the mountain top, with only the sky above you, the winds around you,
and all the world below, remain.

This is a free, fun challenge designed to help you set goals by trying new trails in Far West Texas: Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Franklin Mountains State Park! When you hike a trail, you log your miles on the website AND your name is entered into a monthly drawing! Free stuff, fun and adventure! Try it now: www.geobetty.com/peak

And ULTRA, you say? Not a crazy-long trail run??? The nice folks organizing this race (Friends of Big Bend National Park) know a long trail run might not be for everyone, so they offer a manageable 10K as well as a 25K and 50K lengths.

Truth be told: I've run the 10K twice now and so far, it is my favorite race. The scenery of Big Bend National Park is jaw-droppingly beautiful and the race is extremely well run. The race organizers take VERY good care of you!

By mid-race it warmed up significantly!
We had a ball at the water station on the
Rio Grande! The other side of the river
is Mexico!

This year, following myNew Year's Resolutions, I invited a friend of mine to run with me. The last time I ran this race, it was for speed. I ended up placing first among the female Masters....I had something to prove. This year, I wanted to run with my friend, Mary, and help her through her first 10K. She didn't need my help. She got through it just fine, and we had a ball visiting throughout the run, noting the beauty of our surroundings and the quiet of the park. We even stopped at the water station mid-way through the race to have our pictures taken at the Rio Grande, and visit with the volunteers and other runners. We had a pokey approach to the entire race...our goal was to have fun. And fun we had! The opposite bank in the photo? Yes, that's Mexico!

There's nothing like setting a goal and working hard to WIN something, but there's also joy in sharing it all with a friend. This year, it wasn't about placing or time, or goal-setting. It was all about helping a friend discover fun, accomplishment and the appreciating the beauty of the wilderness.

BIG thanks to our friends at Stonewear Designs! I wore their stylish Rockin Jacket at the beginning of the race. It was perfectly cozy at the very cold start, and as it warmed up (more than 20 degrees in an hour!) it was easy to tie the arms around my waist and complete the race, hassle free! I love the paisley cuffs!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

As these mornings get gradually colder I strangely no longer
look for excuses to stay home. In fact it has become a kind of test of strength
that I've begun to relish in a way I haven’t as a runner in a long time. Why
this kind of insanity? For several years I began to think my body was in steady
decline and allowed myself to slip into sad acceptance of that apparent
deterioration. After 3 decades in which running had become a big part of my
life I started to wonder if my running days might be over. I had seen it happen
to friends. Perhaps my time had come as well. But now, for the first time in a
long time, I am seeing evidence of improvement in both strength and endurance.
I realized it is my mental outlook that changed the most.

I moved to Presidio County in June, coming from an altitude
of less than 100 ft. to almost 5000 ft. When I first started running here I quickly
started to dread the morning run. The modest hills on Mimm’s Ranch road
combined with the altitude left me wheezing and walking before I reached the
top. The rough washboard texture of the road made my ankles and knees hurt and
finding a comfortable place to step difficult at best. I had grown accustomed
to a well worn foot path whose 3 mile loop I had long ago memorized.

This morning is cold by my standards, at least running north
where the rough gravel road takes me into the teeth of a north wind for half of
my run. The return is warmer with a slight tail wind and brilliant sunshine heating
me enough that I often have to shed a layer of running gear. Waves of sparrows
or chickadees in silhouette against the bright morning sunlight break away
before me, launching themselves from the tall grasses and creosote bush to
scatter across the road ahead of me, their flight pattern a rhythm of rising
and falling just above the tops of the grasses surfing on the slowly warming
air. I find that regardless of the conditions, my focus is more on the beauty
of my surroundings rather than any discomfort from running. Occasionally I am so
moved I feel compelled to stop and watch a small raptor gliding low across the
pasture or the color of the grasses and sky even on a cloudy day. Because I
have bad feet, running for me has always been accompanied by some level of
discomfort and pain realizing that at age 63 I can get better makes the daily
ritual of exercise fun again.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

If you're new to running, there's nothing more inspiring than watching other people meet their goals. (And you think, "Yeah! That could be me!") This morning we found some fast runners near the end of their Houston Marathon, working HARD in COLD, RAINY uncomfortable weather at mile 22 and 23. It didn't look easy. It didn't look like something a person would do unless they had a darn good reason for being out there.

It was a good reminder: Every runner has a story.

That's what I love about watching races. Motivations differ: to get healthy, to lose weight, to face personal demons, to distract oneself from sorrow, to inspire someone else, to just plain take control of one's life....every runner has their own story.

What we don't see are the days of self-doubt. We don't see the miles logged in the dark cold days of winter, nor the wet blanket humid days of summer. We don't see the decisions made--to work or to run? To spend social time with friends and family or training hours pounding out mile after mile? Yet there they are, running in pain after 20+ miles, and they just keep going. It inspires me every time.

It is also fun to cheer the runners. "Way to go!" "Good job!" Your encouragement does make a difference. Be noisy, be exuberant!

Here's another way to get in the groove: visit the Expo, especially one before a big city marathon. There are bargains to be had--discounted shoes and running clothes--yahoo! Want to know about heart rate monitors? Talk to the product representatives. Eager to try new sports drinks and energy chews? Check out their samples. Looking for a new challenge? Visit with volunteers and race directors from other runs and marathons...perhaps you'll be inspired to set a new goal. Best of all, you'll see runners of all shapes and sizes there, each excited about their upcoming run.

Big city marathon expos may schedule talks or autograph sessions with running legends. Last year's Houston Marathon Expo had Frank Shorter (r) the 1972 Olympic Marathon Champion and Rod Dixon(l) Australian Olympian and bronze medalist at 1500 meters. This year, Ryan Hall was at the Expo, and there was a long line waiting for an autograph from the first American to break an hour in the half marathon.

After the race is over, check the final results for your age range. You might find your training run times are closer to the top of your peers than you realize! What inspiration for next year's goals!

Do you know it feels to spend too much time on the couch, hips widening as the years roll by? Or the sting of being picked last for athletic teams in school? Me too. But I also know how it feels to finally get up and get moving, and how that can be the greatest gift you can give yourself. Now a 50-something athlete, I'm accomplished in some endeavors and happy to be at-the-back-of-the-pack in others. It didn't happen overnight, and it took support and advice from friends and motivation from within to get fit. And we're all a work in progress. Want to get off the couch yourself? Start where you are, put one foot in front of the other and move with us!